Today is Plump Meat Bun Day (aka Dumplings for Lili)!

December 5, 2022

I recently received my copies of the Japanese version of Dumpling for Lili, published by Kaiseisha Publishing, Ltd., and my heart is exploding with joy!

High Protein Blueberry Cheesecake Smoothie

August 1, 2022

High Protein Blueberry Cheesecake Smoothie recipe! Trust me, this one is good!

Gigi and Ojiji Are Ready for Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month!

May 3, 2022

Gigi and Ojiji are ready for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month!

To all the Mom's -- Happy Mother's Day! #mom #mothersday #gouache #illustration_art #illustration

I'll be at @greenlightbklyn at the Fulton St. store tomorrow at 11:30 reading WHAT'S IN A NAME? It's the second book in my Gigi and Ojiji series, and it's about our different names (given, middle, nicknames) and what it means for our identities and how we see ourselves! Will Gigi find the perfect name for herself? Come see! I'll also be doing a drawing game and signing books and chatting with people about their names. ❤️I love hearing people's "name stories". They are always unique and interesting! My middle name is Japanese (Mari) but I never knew how to write it because my parents didn't know the language! My last name, 岩井, means "rock" "well", which I love. It's not that uncommon a name in Japan. Our son Jamie's middle name is from my uncle -- Takateru, 高照, which means "high, tall" and "shine". 😁@jamestakateru @the_cat_agency @tamarmays @harperkids @harpercollinsch #childrensillustration #childrensbookart #childrensbooks #kidlitart #kidlitauthor #AAPIChildrensBooks #aapiauthors #gigiandojiji #nameorigin

Had an amazing day with @wainsworldlicensing at @surtexshow! I didn't take enough photos as usual. 😢I finally got to meet so many wonderful people in the agency and not everyone is pictured here! I'm the luckiest girl to beer included among these amazingly talented women who are also so kind, generous, and supportive! They are such rockstars 💖💜❤️💙! The beautiful booth and giveaway pamphlet was made possible by the expertise of @twoifbyseastudios and @emilydumasillustration 😍 #licensingart #licensing #artists #wainsworld #surtex2023 @pattyrybolt @velasquezstudio @katherineherrellart @thimblepress @julietmeeksdesign @thepapercurator @heatherleechan @caseykrimmel @leahbischstudio @claudiabdesign @bethschneiderdesigns @corinnehaigdesigns @amythalldesigns @idesignandco @davidedallison @joylarkstudio @kendrashedenhelm

I am so thrilled and honored to have GIGI AND OJIJI be in the company of the awesome books that are included in the Bank Street Children's College of Education' s Best Books of the Year 2023 Edition!!! GIGI AND OJIJI is in the 5-9 year old Beginning Reader category. I was tickled to see friends' books listed near mine! HOT DOG by @dougsalati AM I A FROG? by @rockwelllizzy FISH AND WAVE by @sergioruzzier MADDIE AND MABEL, illustrated by my friend, @tatjanamaiwyss, and MY SELF, YOURSELF by @esmeshapiro ❤️✨ #childrensbooks #childresnliterature #bankstreetbooks #librarians #kidlit #earlyreaders #gigiandojiji #childrensbookauthor #childrensbookillustrator @tamarmays @harperkids @harpercollins @the_cat_agency @bankstreetlibrary

Happy first day of AAPI month! #Repost @harperkids with @use.repost ・・・ Discover a world of diverse voices and captivating stories with our selection of books featuring Asian characters and culture! 📚Books featured: - Dim Sum, Here We Come! by @maplelam - Finding Papa by @angelapham25 and @teabuoy - One Day by @joannahowrites and @faith.pray - Maribel’s Year by @averyandaugustine and @sgonzalesart - When Lola Visits by @averyandaugustine and @aaronasis - Wei Skates On by @nathanwchen and @lorrainenam - Gigi and Ojiji by @melissaiwai1 - Eyes That Speak to the Stars by @joannahowrites and @dunghanhho - Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by @joannahowrites and @dunghanhho - Punky Aloha by @punkyaloha #AAPIChildrensBooks #aapiheritagemonth #aapiauthors #childrensbooks #childrensillustration #kidlit

Gigi and Ojiji Food For Thought is now available for pre-order! Link in profile. I'm so excited to share this book as it has to do with my favorite thing to write about : Food! 😃😃😃 A Geisel Honor–winning series! Join Gigi as she tries natto, a traditional Japanese food, in this exciting and engaging Level Three I Can Read book by acclaimed author and illustrator Melissa Iwai. Intergenerational relationships, Japanese culture, and social and emotional learning are highlighted in this sweet biracial story, perfect for sharing with children 3 to 6. Ohayo! It’s breakfast time and Gigi can’t wait to make her favorite meal—Peanut Butter Toast. Yummy! But Ojiji doesn’t like peanut butter. How can anyone NOT like peanut butter? Ojiji prefers Japanese foods—like natto, made from fermented soybeans. Will Gigi learn to love a new breakfast treat? This story highlights the close relationship of Gigi and her grandfather and the importance of trying new things! This exciting and engaging I Can Read series is brought to you by author-illustrator Melissa Iwai, whose popular books include Soup Day and Dumplings for Lili. Gigi and Ojij: Food for Thought is a Level Three I Can Read book. Level 3 includes many fun subjects kids love to read about on their own. Themes include friendship, adventure, historical fiction, and science. Level 3 books are written for early independent readers. They include some challenging words and more complex themes and stories. The story contains several Japanese words and a glossary of definitions. Praise for Gigi and Ojiji: "Gigi crafts her Japanese American identity in this enchanting early reader. The cuteness, inclusivity, and cross-cultural problem-solving represented will have young readers coming back again and again. A must-buy." —School Library Journal (starred review) #childrensillustration #childrensbookart #kidlit #childrensbooks #aapiauthors #childrenbookauthor #natto #peanut butter

Yesterday was a great day! Thank you, @booksofwonder for having us! It was such a treat to hear stories read by @jackie_azua_kramer and Jonah Kramer, @illustrationlombardi @katrinamoore1011 @danah.kim ! I also loved hearing the backstories behind these projects and about everyone's creative processes. Thank you to all who came to support (@pontariver 💖), including our beloved mentor and friend, @monicabooks!! #kidlit #childrensbooks #childrensbookauthors #childresnbookillustrators #childrensbookart #kidlitart #earthdaybooks #books #booklove #authors #art

Happy Earth Day! #Repost @primaryscouts with @use.repost ・・・ Happy 🌎 Day From my little garden and the absolute sweetest new read ➡️👀🤍 Current earth day agenda: 🌳 long walk in the trees 🪴 tidy garden after heavy storm ⛲️ browsing 🥗 make my new favorite salad ✔️watched the fledglings leave the nest What are your earth day plans?

This Sunday @booksofwonder is having a panel of wonderful authors and illustrators for their April Picture Book Bonanza! Come join me and @katrinamoore1011 @illustrationlombardi @jackie_azua_kramer and her son Jonah, and @danah.kim for a celebration of our books! #childrensillustration #childrensbookart #childrensbooks #bookbonanza #picturebooks #childrenspicturebooks #kidlit

Please go out and download @jamestakateru 's new EP just dropped today!!❤️ Available on Spotify, SoundCloud, and Apple Music! This is the culmination of several other singles he has released since entering this "new era". ❤️❤️💜 #hyperpop #proudmamamoment #jamestakateru #orangecapstudios @orangecapstudios

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The Hungry Artist

A blog about healthy eating and cooking with kids.

Visit my cooking blog, inspired by my book, Soup Day. :)